A patio or deck is a perfect place to entertain or just hang out and relax in good weather. Although when the cold weather starts to creep in, we usually abandon the great outdoors for the warmth of indoors.
But when we work outdoors, and shelter is not an option, we must find solutions to counteract the low temperatures of the environment and provide a suitable and pleasant climate.
A mushroom heater or outdoor heater it can help prolong the time we spend outside, provide heating during work days or evening events, and extend the season for enjoying the outdoors by a month or more depending on the climate of your location.
What is a heating fungus?
A heating fungus It is a stove that produces heat, and emits it to heat the environment through a gas or electric combustion system. In both cases it is a unitary heating system that serves to heat the environment around it.
In addition to providing warmth, patio heaters are a great focal point and add a certain ambiance and aesthetic to spaces designed for people who work or enjoy an outdoor location.
If you want to buy a heating fungus for exteriors, in the following article we will tell you what to take into account to choose the product that best suits your patio or terrace.
How do the heating mushrooms?
An outdoor heater produces heat by burning fuel. such as natural gas, propane, butane, or by an element that is heated by electricity.
The heat it is intensified by the design of the heater and warms the space below and around it. Unlike a heater that uses a fan to blow hot air, a patio heater acts more like the sun and produces radiant heat.
This method works best for outdoor spaces as it keeps heat in one place. Anyone who is even about 6 meters away will feel its intensity.
Types of outdoor heaters
Outdoor patio heaters require some form of fuel or power to produce heat. The most common is propane, followed by electric, and lastly, natural gas. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
Electric Heaters
Electric patio heaters are very easy to use and most require little more than a standard power outlet. Once assembled they will produce as much heat as a propane model.
The electric heaters they are often wall-mounted, but there are some freestanding models. They are more efficient than propane because 100% of the energy consumed is converted into heat.
The drawback is that they are not portable. People must sit under or near the units to feel the heat and there is also no flame in sight.
Freestanding electric models can be moved wherever there is an outlet, running efficiently at a cost between propane and natural gas.
This type of stoves They work with voltages from 100 to 240V, offering maximum powers from 900 to 2100W with their radiant light tubes.
Although the reflector plates are covered with metal mesh for protection, parts of electrical products can become very hot and cause burns; Therefore, care must be taken with children or clients who could be near the heater.
Natural gas heaters
The natural gas patio heaters They are similar to propane heaters, but must be connected to a natural gas line which makes them stationary.
Like an electric heater, people must congregate under or near the heater. The advantage of natural gas is that you do not have to replace the tank. The downside is that you can’t move the heater once it’s attached, and you may need to hire a plumber to install the gas line.
Patio heaters that run on natural gas cost less to operate than any other patio heater.
Propane
Like a gas grill, a propane patio heater comes out of a propane gas tank that sits in the base of the heater.
A propane heater is one of the cheapest to operate for the amount of heat it generates.
Freestanding and tabletop heaters can be placed in the center of a patio or deck and produce enough heat to keep a small group of people comfortable.
The only downside is that the propane tank needs to be refilled or replaced when it runs out. There are no installation costs associated with propane, but it does have the highest usage cost.
What Size Heat Mushroom Should I Get?
Before buy a heating mushroom, determine how much space do you need to heat and where will you locate the heater.
Patio heaters come in all sizes. If you have a small porch or balcony, it may be limited and tight to the available space. But if physical space isn’t an issue you’ll want to be more focused on Kilocalories/hour (kcal/h), a unit of heat output.
The heating mushrooms Freelancers generally produce 10,000 kilocalories per hour. This will heat a space about 6 meters in diameter, which is good for a small group of people.
The air temperature and wind conditions can also affect the heater heating capacity. The heating area is based on a relatively low humidity, a temperature between 12 and 18°C ​​and very little wind.
The mushroom heaters they do not work well in the winter when the temperature drops below 3°C.
How safe is a heating fungus?
The heating mushrooms modern have many safety features to prevent burns and fires.
Most have a tilt shutoff valve that will shut off the heater if it is knocked over or thrown.
Some have an automatic shut-off switch if it gets too hot.
The outdoor heaters they get hot and should be placed away from combustible items such as awnings and umbrellas. For safety, it is recommended to have 1 meter of free space on all sides.
Some heaters may have glass doors to protect us from accidental burns. These doors are made of glass that does not heat up, and are safe for children and pets.
Although not designed to keep you warm at temperatures below 3°C, a heating fungus can keep the gathering alive when it starts to cool down a bit.
Enjoy your terrace or patio all year round and choose to buy the heater that suits your needs, space and comfort.
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